March 24, 2011

Council Considers Regional Governance

Kāpiti Coast District Council today considered the report on Regional Governance Review for the Wellington Region and confirmed it is ready to take part in any discussions and has an open mind on the options being discussed, Mayor Jenny Rowan said today.

“The Wellington Mayoral Forum commissioned a report from Price Waterhouse Cooper to start looking at whether the Wellington region has the right structures and processes for the future,” she said.

“The region’s councils are clear that Wellington should determine its own future governance arrangements rather than having anything imposed on it.

“The actual review was placed on our website late last year and we invited residents to have a look at it and to provide comments. The period for direct submissions has closed but the report is still on our website and people can still provide us with their views.

“In our discussions today our Council was clear that it holds an open mind about the options being discussed but before we agree to any proposals we must talk about it fully with the Kāpiti Coast community.

“In discussions I have had with people on this topic I’ve frequently mentioned that the best way to a final set of proposals and formulas may be a referendum and we will need to do that,” Mayor Rowan said.

Part of the review involves consideration of such issues as boundaries and how authorities work together, including how they can support specific areas.

Kāpiti Coast District Council wants to know residents’ views before it forms its position on these matters.

The document is available on the Council’s website at www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/governancereview

ENDS

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